Chevrolet Bolt: 6 Reasons Chevy's New EV Should Excite You

There were plenty of fast, radical cars at CES 2016. But amongst the somewhat ridiculous, Chevrolet quietly displayed what many believe to be the true future of the automobile. An affordable, efficient, and spacious crossover dubbed the Bolt EV.
It follows the same cues we saw from the concept just last year, but translates that styling, performance, technology to the real world. The Chevrolet Bolt is a car that deserves your attention, and these are six reasons why it should excite you.
RELATED: See More of the 2016 Chevrolet Bolt EV200-Mile Range
200 miles on a single charge may not seem like much, but when you consider the rest of the market, it’s right up near the top. The Nissan Leaf barely squeaks out 100 miles, while the Model S, in its lowest trim, just weeks out 208.
So why not buy a Tesla? That brings me to my next point.
$30,000 Price Tag
Do a quick search online and see if you can find a Tesla Model S for $30,000. Go ahead, I’ll give you a minute. Couldn’t find anything, could you? That’s because unlike the Model S, the Chevrolet Bolt was designed with the average consumer in mind.
$30,000 is nothing when you consider the benefits of driving completely emissions free. Saving the planet, and saving a few bucks all at the same time.
RELATED: GM Bets On Lyft, Invests $500 Million Towards Autonomous DrivingFun to Drive
Literally moments after the Bolt debuted at CES, Chevrolet invited a select number of media for a quick spin around a coned parking lot. Maybe not the most intensive review, but already it's being heralded as something that’s pretty fun to drive, especially by crossover standards.
One-Pedal Driving
Like the BMW i3, the Chevrolet Bolt can be driven using just one pedal. What does that actually mean? While driving, shift the gearbox into low. When you do that, the vehicle automatically brakes when you take your foot off the gas. Not dramatically, but enough to bring you to a full stop given enough space.
That one-pedal driving system was borrowed from the second-gen Volt, and continually improves range while driving in the city.
RELATED: 2016 Chevrolet Volt is Your Green Car of the YearPlenty of Room
With a similar size to the BMW i3, or more directly the Chevrolet Equinox, the Bolt doesn’t skimp on interior comfort. Five passengers will be able to comfortably cruise, whether it be long road trips, or short carpools to work.
Autonomous Possibilities
Chevrolet hasn’t dished out any details regarding the possibilities of a self-driving Bolt. But that’s ok. With a recent $500 million investment into ride-sharing service Lyft, we don’t doubt that the fully-electric Bolt will be the vehicle of choice when system testing comes around. Efficient, spacious, and soon to be self-driving.
RELATED: Could Chevrolet Be Preparing an Electric Corvette?Follow @notaboatcaptain